Semiairborne vehicle



United States Patent.

[72] Inventor: David F. Thompson 204 Wildwood Ave., West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380 [21] Application No.: 752,717 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1968 [45] Patented: Aug. 4, 1970 [54] SEMIAIRBORNE VEHICLE 7 Claims, Drawing Fig.

[52] U.S 'Cl. 114/665, 1 15/ .5 [51] Int. Cl. 1363b 1/18 [50] Field ofSearch 1 14/665 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,825,363 9/1931 Robertson 1 14/665 Primary Examiner- Andrew H. Farrell Attorney-Paul and Paul Jenny et al ll4/66.5XR

ABSTRACT: A semi-airborne vehicle is disclosed driven by a surface bound propulsion unit. Extending forwardly from the surface cpropulsion unit is a long pylon boom having at the forward en thereof the airborne portion of the vehicle in the form of a winged body adapted to rise above the surface of the water under the control of a pilot who rides in the cockpit of the winged body. The surface propulsion unit, which is unmanned, never leaves the surface. In one preferred form, the surface unit is water bound, and the winged body, which utilizes aero-dynamic lift and is capable of limited roll and pitch, includes a hull and a wing supported on said hull for free pivotal movement about the pitch axis.

Patented Aug. 4, 1970 3,522,785

INVENTOR. David F. Thompson ATTORNEYS.

:Lq- 3 2| 35 BY US. PATENT 3,522,785 SEMIAIRBORNE VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a semiairborne vehicle having partial degrees of freedom of flight but in which the propulsion unit is surface bound.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art shows waterborne craft of the hydroplane type in which high speeds are obtained by achieving planing speeds.

Also shown in the prior art are various forms of hydrofoil type craft which are supported at cruising speeds by airfoilshaped members which ride submerged in the water to produce hydrodynamic lift.

Also shown in the prior art are semiairborne craft in which a water propulsion device is suspended by various complex sliders or linkages beneath the basic body of the craft, giving a small amount of vertical freedom to lift the craft aerodynamically but with poor adaptability to wave action.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle which achieves partial degrees of freedom of flight, with a reasonable degree of stability. A long pylon boom extends forwardly from a surface-bound propulsion unit which pushes a winged body which may rise above the surface to the extent permitted by the length of the boom, under pilot control utilizing aerodynamic lift. In the preferred form illustrated, the airborne portion of the vehicle includes a hull, and a wing portion mounted on said hull for free pivotal movement about the pitch axis. The wing portion includes ailerons and elevator. The airborne portion is capable of limited roll and pitch maneuvers and execution of turns using wing lift, as done by an airplane in free flight. The surface-bound propulsion unit is, in my preferred form, a waterborne unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of semiairborne vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, is my new semi-airborne craft embodying the basic concept of the present invention. The craft illustrated comprises a water-surface-bound propulsion unit comprising an auxiliary planing hull 12 powered by a known form of engine, such as a gasoline motor 14 for driving a water propeller 15 which may be supported on a rudder 17 or other shaft. Alternatively, the water-surface-bound propulsion unit may be propelled by an air propeller.

Extending forwardly from the water propulsion unit 10 is a long pylon boom 16 having a winged body 20 secured to the forward end thereof. The winged body 20 comprises a planing hull or fuselage 21 having a forward rudder 35 for waterborne steering. The hull includes a cockpit 22 equipped with necessary and known forms of controls. A pair of struts 25 project upwardly from the fuselage 21 on which the wing 27 is supported for free pivotal movement about the pitch axis. Ailerons 28 and 29 are provided at the trailing edge portions of the wing 27 for lateral balance and roll control purposes.

Extending rearwardly from the freely pivotable wing 27 are a pair of elevator booms 31 for supporting at the rearward ends thereof a fixed elevator stabilizer surface 32 having a hinged controllably-movable elevator surface 33 for pitch.

control purposes.

Suitable cables not shown extend from the cockpit through speed of the propulsion engine 14 and also the angular orientation of the water rudder 17 or shaft on which the propeller 15 is supported.

The cockpit 22 is also equipped with known types of flying or steering controls to enable the pilot to manipulate the ailerons 28 and 29, the elevator surface 33, and the forward rudder 35.

In operation, turns are made in the airborne mode by banking the craft aerodynamically with the ailerons 28 and 29. Landings are made using airplane techniques by throttling back and progressively lifting the elevator surface 33 to obtain minimum flying speed at touchdown.

In flight, if the craft approaches excessively high angles, the boom 16 will pull up the auxiliary planing hull 12 and the planing hull 12 will tend to stall hydrodynamically, thereby slowing the craft. This will prevent excessive or dangerously high angles, even though the pilot, due to to inexperience or inattention, is not alert to proper management of the height of the airborne portion of the vehicle.

It will be seen that l have provided a vehicle in which the pilot and passenger-carrying portion is supported by aerodynamic lift and controlled by aerodynamic forces. However, the craft never becomes entirely airborne. Thus, the risks assumed by the pilot and passengers are substantially less than in a fully airborne craft. Also, since in the preferred waterborne form of semiairborne vehicle the drive propeller remains in the water, the hazards created by an air propeller are avoided.

The craft of the present invention may be used for pleasure purposes, or for flight training purposes, or for high-speed travel over the water.

While the craft has been described in its preferred form as a waterborne-airborne craft, supported by a combination of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces, the surface-bound portion of the craft could be designed for ground travel, as distinguished from water travel. Also, while the preferred form shows the use of a pivotal but otherwise conventional fixed wing, it is contemplated that the craft may be designed with an autorotating rotary wing to provide the lift in place of the wing. Other types of wing may also be used.

The craft described provides a close approach to the sensation of true flight, yet it may be powered by an outboard type motor or other readily available power plant of the non-aircraft type. The winged body may achieve appreciable height above the surface, although the propulsion unit remains surface-bound. Large unbalanced forces and moments are avoided since the thrust vector and the centers of lift and drag of the airborne body lie close to its center of gravity.

Attention is also called to the fact that by pivotably mounting the wing 27 in the manner shown, the wing angle of attack becomes self-adjusting to a constant value with respect to the airstream, independently of the attitudes of the winged body. This feature overcomes the unstable lift gradient which a simple rigidly attached wing would tend to exert on this type of craft.

I claim:

1. a semiairborne vehicle comprising:

(a) a surface bound propulsion unit;

(b) a winged vehicle supportable by aerodynamic lift;

(c) said winged vehicle including a hull and a wing pivotally mounted on said hull for free pivotal movement about the pitch axis with provision for stability of aerodynamic angle of attack independently of vehicle attitude; and

(d) an elongated member rigidly connecting said surface propulsion unit and said hull of said winged vehicle in tandem arrangement.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said elongated member extends forwardly from said surface bound propulsion unit and is rigidly connected at its forward end to 4. A vehicle according to claim 3 characterized in that said propeller is a water propeller.

5. A vehicle according-to claim 4 characterized in that said winged vehicle includes aileron surfaces for roll control and elevator surface for pitch control. 

